Apparatus for treating artificial fibers



Sept. 7, 193 7.

J. P. LAIRD ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTIFICIAL FIBERS Filed Jan. lO, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Smc/wouw Joagah I. Laird, 2

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 bs a6 2a J. P. LAIRD ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTIFICIAL FIBERS Filed Jan. l0, 1936 Sept. 7, 193 7.

Jose/22k B La ede? J. P. LAIRD ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTIFICIAL FIBERS Sept. 7, 193 '7.

4 Sheets-Sheet' 3 Filed Jan. lO, 1936 \10 .zown/ afffd@ Sept. 7, 1937.

J. P. LAIRD ET A1. 2,092,125

APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTIFICIAL FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. l0, 1936 imm.'

Patented Sept. 7, 1.937

STATES l PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTIFICIAL FIBERS Application January 1o, 1936, lserial No. 58,586

13 Claims.

manifold vhaving a plurality of perforated jupright tubes on which are supported the fiber cakes "in stacked arrangement, each cake being individually and separately supported, so that there will be no more weight on `the lower cake than there is onrthe uppermost cake of the respective stacks.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- .vide an arrangement, wherein the fiber cakes 20 may be. positioned in stacked formation, each cake being individually supported, so that when theliquor is forced under pressure through the cakes or drawn through the cakes by a vacuum, each cake will have-received a like treatment 25 and be equally as well washed or treated, regardless of its position in the stack, which is impos sible in the ordinary arrangement wherein the cakes are not individually supported but merely' placed one above the other, and thelowermost cake "supports the weight of all those above it.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, the treating or washing or the dyeing of Vartificial fiber cakes -must be performed with great care. Allowance should always be made for the vertical expansion of the cake, so that `the liquor or water may be forced through the cakespor drawn therein to properly treat all'of the bers. The cakes must be wellsealed at their upper and lower surfaces, as otherwise the liquor or'other iiuidwould be forced out at the upper and lower surfaces rather than through the cakes, and the treatment would be a failure.

- In our co-pending application, there is'shown a method and means of clamping an individual cake between upper and lower plates which, in turn, are provided on their inner faces with a sponge rubber, so that although the cake is sealed in a fluid-tight manner between the two plates, it isallowed to vertically expand to thus 50 permit the liquid to be forced therethrough in an even and relatively quick manner.

In the present invention, the same sealing arrangement is carried out, but rather than posi- Y tioning the cakes in a plurality of tanks disposed 55 ,inrtiers, we contemplate stacking the cakes and provide means whereby the stacked cakes are individually supported. At the same time, the clamping arrangement of the cakes between the rubber disks is such that the right amount of pressure for the seal can be applied to each cake clamped between the sponge rubber disks.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement 'consisting generally of a relatively large tank and a manifold which can be raised and lowered within the tank, on which there is a plurality of upright tubes, which tubes are so arranged that `supports are provided for the individual cakes. Also, the supports can be adjusted to individually supply the right amount of sealing pressure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for the treatment of rayon fibers, wherein the cakes may be arranged in stacked formation and individually supported with respect to each other, each cake individually sealed between sponge rubber, and

means provided for forcing a liquid centrally.

outwardly of the cake, or, by Ireversing the pump,

drawing the liquor in through the cake, under a vacuum.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for individually supporting artificial fiber cakes in stacked relation and to provide means for either forcing liquid into or out of the cake and also for forcing warm air, if desired, into and out ,of the cakes to drive outthe liquor and to more rapidly dry the fibers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for the treatment of stacked cakes that are individually supported, and wherein the entire manifold may be raised from the tank, the pressure pipe readily disconnected, and the manifold moved to a desired spot for removing the treated cakes therefrom.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain new and -novel features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment,

Figsl is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the manifold supported by the cable and resting within the tank,

the supporting chain to the hoist being broken to show indefinite length;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation and partly in section of/one of the upright tubes of the manifold that supports the stacked cakes;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on lthe line of Fig. 3;

5 Fig. 4a is a fragmentary sectional View of a plate locked on the upright tube;

Fig. 4b is a similar View with the plate in position to be vertically moved;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a supporting or clamping plate without the rubber pads thereon;

Fig. 6 isa section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the plates with the sponge rubber disks applied thereto;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the sponge rubber disks on the opposite surfaces of the plate;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the manifold; Fig. l0 is a horizontal section taken on the line III- I0 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the manifold, showing the manner in which the manifold is connected to the main pres-sure line.

Referring now tothe drawings, and for the moment to Figs. land 2, there is fragmentarily shown a relatively large tank I, which may be made of rubber, wood, or other composition material that will not be affected by the acids or liquor used in the treatment of artificial fibers.

There will be inlet and outlet pipes for the tank, so that the desired liquors may be pumped into the tank and discharged therefrom.

It will be understood also that we have shown only one tank, that is, one complete unit, with an overhead hoist 3, traveling on a track but any number of these units might be arranged on the floor of the factory, depending on the daily capacity desired.

Extending from the hoist will be seen a chain 5 which; in turn, is secured to cables 5, which are, in turn, secured to the upper part of what we term the manifold I through the eyelets 6a. The break in the chain, of course, in Fig. 2 is to illustrate a chain of indefinite length, because the manifold 1 is to be raised out of the tank when the cakes 'have been completely treated and the manifold moved to another spot on the floor where the cakes can be easily removed from their stacked position on the upright tubes of the manifold.

Reference will now be madeto the manifold l, on which the cakes are individually stacked and supported while being treated. Y

Referring for the moment to Fig. 9, there will be seen a top member 8*, to which is secured the four rod hangers 9 which, in turn, support the two sections of the floor I0. It will be noticed that these two floor sections are spaced slightly apart, as may be particularly seen in Figs. 10 and 11, for the reason that, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this 66 manifoldl has to straddle the main pressure pipe I I when being inserted or removed from the tank, which pipe is spaced slightly above the upper edge of the tank I. In Fig. 1 especially, the manner inwhich this manifold straddles the pipe is 65 shown, the manifold being in its lowered position Within the tank.

, Beneath the ood sections I0 and extending transversely thereof are the two bottom stringers I2, which may or may not rest on the bottom of f We in no way Wish to be limited to the number, as these may be easily increased or decreased, depending on the size of the tank and manifold desired. One of these upright tubes, on which the cakes are to be staked, is shown in detail, and as they are alike, reference is now made to the one shown in Fig. 3.

This upright tube I3 may be of hard rubber or any other material that will not be affected by the sulphuric acid or other acids or liquor used in the treatment of artificial fibers.

'Ihe upright is in the form of a tube, which is externally threaded at its lower end, as at I4, to betted within the floor I0, Fig. l, and held in position by the nut I5. Likewise, the tube is externally threaded at its reduced upper end, as at I6, so that the cap II, Fig.` 1, may be threaded thereon to hold an upper clamping plate 2I, later to be referred to. They tube or upright I3 is also cut away on two opposite sides, nearly throughout its length, as at I8, leaving the opposite quarter sections 2l), which are threaded, as at 2l. The tube is further provided with perforations 22, where the quarter sections are broken away.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that what we term threads 2l do not extend completely around the tube and are lmore in the nature of lands, which fit in the valleys or grooves, later to be mentioned, which are formed in the Supporting plates.

The purpose of these perforations is to let the liquor under pressure pass from this tube to the cores of the various ber cakes, or to create a vacuum internally of the cakes to draw the liquor through them into the upright tube and back to the tank.

'Ihe upright tube I3 may be of any desired length, and a convenient length is shown in the drawings, whereby four cakes may be treated while mounted thereon.

Now the purpose of removing the quarter sections I8 and forming the lands 2I is to permit the positioning and locking of the plate supports 23,

which are formed with cooperating valleys or grooves, so that in one position, the plates may be moved at will up and down the tube I3 and then revolved approximately a quarter of a turn to lock the same in am1 desired position on the tube. By having the lands terminate slightly short of the quarter sections, it prevents the plates from being turned too far, and to unlock the same, the plates will have to be revolved in the opposite direction.

The plates 23, as shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, have the central bore 24 and the valleys or grooves 25, the valleys yor grooves, of course, being broken away also in quarter sections, as at 26, so that when the plates 23 are revolved a quarter of a turn from the position shown in Fig. 5, with respect to Fig. 4, it will be possible to slide them up and down the upright tube I3.

In Fig. 4b, we have shown one of the plates in its vertically movable position ,with respect to the upright tube.

Now to lock the plate in any desired position on the tube, it is only necessary to revolve it a quarter turn, so that the lands 2| will engage the valley 25 of the plate, and the latter will be supported and locked until it is again revolved a quarter turn for releasing.

These plates 23, preferably of hard rubber, are provided on their upper and lower surfaces, that is, the rims of the plates, with the sponge rubber pads 28. 'I'his securing of sponge rubber pads to the plates for holding a ber cake between them .against-the upper plates 21.

is sh and Tthe advantages described in the co-pending application heretofore mentioned, to wit, Serial Number 25,190.

` The upper clamping plates 21, shown in Fig. l,

' are-not provided with a sponge rubber on their upper surfaces but may have a gasket 28a secured thereto or placed thereon, as'the cap I1 is to bear Also in Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the lowermost plate is not provided with a sponge rubber pad on its under surface but bears directly against the oor of the manifold.

It will be understood that byarranging the upright tube I3 with external threads (lands) hav ing quarter sections cutaway, and by arranging the supporting plates and upper clamping plates (which are identical, with the exception that the upper clamping plates have no sponge rubber on their upper surfaces), a plurality of these supporting plates may be vertically positioned along the upright tube I3, so that cakes C of artificial fiber may be placed between the plates and the plates revolved until there is just the desired amount of 'clamping pressure between the upper and lower sponge rubber pads on the respective cakes, and each cake is individually supported.

The top cakes will also be held in this manner, but the extra cap member will be threaded on the upright tube and pressed against the respective upper clamping plates. The cap members are closed at their tops, so that they`tubes will be completely sealed, except for the perforations, when the cakes are in place.

Thus, it will be seen that each individual cake i5 is individually supported, rather than having the lowermost cake supporting the weight of all those above itwhich is the general practice where cakes are held in stacked formation.

It is also extremely desirable that the cake be allowed to expand vertically, so that the fluid may pass through the cake, andrwe are of the belief`that where the cake is allowed to expand in a vertical manner. the diamond of the weave tends to open centrally of the diamond and thus let the fluid pass more readily therethrough. Our belief is based on the fact that we have been ableto. wash and treat rayon fiber cakes in this device that have been spun at a very low traverse, say at the rate of 17 or 18 R. P. M.

Heretofore, when cake washing hasbeen at- I tempted, the traverse has been speeded up to between thirty-six and forty-five strokes a minute to thus give an open weave or larger diamond.

Byzthe present arrangement, it will be seen that each individual cake is sealed on its upper and lower surfaces,'with respect to the atmosphere, but allowed to expand against the sponge rubber, and each cake, although positioned in a stacked manner, will not have to bear the weight of the cakes above it.

It will be noticed from Fig. 1 that the cakes when in stacked relation are all sealed against the liquid in the tank. Inasmuch, however, as the upright tube has quarter sections removed and the supporting plates have quarter sections removed, two passageways 26 are formed externally of the tube, so that all of the stacked cakes will be internally intercommunicating. Thus,.V

I5 all interconnected, so that any pressure or vacuum created in the cores is equal with respect to all of the stacked cakes.

Now referring again to the manifold 1, it will be seen that all of the uprighfttubes I3 in one row are connected by a pipe 29 (Fig. 11), and in a like manner, all of the upright tubes in the other row are connected by the pipe 30.

Also extending across the top of the tank is the heretofore mentioned pipe II, while extending from this pipe Il is the vertical hose feed pipe 3| with the two branches 32 at its lower end. At the ends of these respective branches are quick-tum couplings 33, that are designed to respectively connect with the pipes 29 and 30, which i lead to the respective upright tubes. l

Now referring to Fig. 2 for the moment, there is shown a base 34, on which may be mounted an electric pump 35 having a connection 36 with the tank and a connection 31 leading to the main feed pipe II. We havel not shown this pump in detail, as it, per se, forms no part of the present invention, but it is to be understood that it may be so arranged as to exert either a fluid pressure in the pipe II, through the vertical hose feed pipe 3|, and to the upright tubes I3, or it can be adjusted to create a vacuum or suction therein. Thus, the liquor L can be either forced into the upright tubes and through the cakes, the liquor passing through the perforations in the tubes, or a vacuum can be created in the pipe II and in the manifold and upright tubes by turning thev vtreatment thereof. Of course, when the air treatment is given, the tank will be empty, or the manifold may be elevated clear thereof.

It might be mentioned that the artificial f'lbers vmay be dyed inthis apparatus by forcing or drawing the dye liquor through in the same manner.

Now when the manifold is to be withdrawn from the tank, and the cakes and manifold moved to an unloading position, the manifold will first be raised and then the couplings 33 disengaged from their respective pipes 29 and 3D, after which the manifold is then free to be moved along its track d (Fig. 2).

In a like manner, to load the manifold, it may be drawn to a position right over the tank or to a position where the cakes are spun and the supporting plates raised or lowered to the desired position on the upright tubes. A lowermost cake is then clamped in position and the clamping plate revolved apart turn, so that there will be a fluid seal between the cake and the supporting plates. After the plurality of cakes are thus arranged, the caps I1 will be placed on the respective upper clamping plates and the nozzles or couplings 33 connected to the respective pipes and the manifold will then be ready to lower into the tank.

oftentimes, It is desirable to put a mesh covering along the inner surface of the cake and let it extend over the top and bottom edges, so that the threads will not be displaced from their position in the cake, and although we have not shown this in the several views, it is perfectly obvious that this may be done. The mesh covering will also protect the upper and lower surfaces of the fiber threads of each cake.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that w have constructed an apparatus to conserve space,

and wherein each cake will be individu-ally supported and, therefore, when treated, will receive the same treatment as all of the other cakes. Also, we have devised an apparatus wherein the cakes are allowed to expand vertically, even though held in stacked relation.

Again, by using a form of mutilated thread (lands and valleys) on the upright tubes and supporting plates, a fine adjustment may be had in the respective clamping of the cakes, although we do not wish to be limited to this one form of supporting and clamping means, as other means of the same general nature might be employed.

Also, by arranging a manifold that will straddle the main supply tank and can be hoisted from the tank, much time can be saved in stacking the cakes and also removing them from the manifold after the latter has been lifted from the tank.

Finally, by using the perforated upright tubes and a pump, as described, either air or fluid pressure can be exerted internally of the stacked cakes as a unit, or the pump may be reversed and a vacuum created internally of the cakes to thus draw the liquor therethrough.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A machine for treating artificial fiber cakes -including a tank, -a vertically movable manifold within the tank, said manifold including a plurality of uprights having perforations therein, manifold pipes connected to the respective uprights, a further main pressure pipe connected to said last-mentioned pipes and a pump connected to the main pressure pipe, means cooperating with the uprights to individually support and seal the upper and lower surfaces of the respective cakes with respect to the atmosphere, said means permitting of elongation of the cakes, and the pump capable of forcing a liquid through the respective cakes to thereby treat the same.

2. An apparatus for treating a plurality of stacked artcial fiber cakes including a tank, vertically movable means having a plurality of uprights therein and said uprights being in the form of perforated tubes, a main inlet connected to the various tubes, means for supporting the various cakes stacked on the uprights at any and -all points along said uprights and sealing the upper and lower surfaces of the respective cakes with respect to the liquid in the tank, means for forcing a liquid centrally of the respective cakes in each stack to thereby cause the liquid to pass through the said cakes to treat the same, and the said pump capable of being reversed to reduce the pressure below that of atmospheric pressure centrally of the cakes in the respective stacks to thereby cause the liquid to flow inwardly of the cakes and into the said upright tubes.

3. A machine for treating artificial fiber cakes including a tank, means in the tank for supporting a plurality of cakes in a stacked vertical position, said means including 'a vertical upright tube with adjustable lockable plates thereon, the said plates being capable of being locked at any point ,throughout the length of the vertlcalupright,

the plates being provided with sponge rubber to contact and seal the cakes with respect to the plates, and the upper end of the tube being sealed whereby liquid under pressure can be forced outwardly from the center of the cakes.

4. A machine` for treating artificial fiber cakes including a tank, means in the tank for supporting a plurality of cakes, said means including a vertical upright tube with adjustable lockable plates thereon, said plates being lockable at any point throughout the length of the upright tube, the plates being provided with sponge rubber to contact and seal the cakes with respect to the plates and the upper end of the tube being sealed, and a vacuum pump connected with the tube whereby liquid may be drawn from a position externally of the cakes.

5. An apparatus for treating artificial fiber cakes having a central core, including a vertical upright and individually supported locking and sealing' plates, the plates and upright having intereng-aging threads when in certain positions so that the cakes will be supported and the desired clamping pressure may be exerted oneach cake, the cakes when in their clamped position having their cores registering, and the said up right being perforated whereby air or liquid under `pressure may be forced into the central core and out through the cakes.

6. A machine for treating artificial fiber cakesA including a perforated hollow tube, said tube hav- 'ing vertical grooves extending substantially individually supporting the same, means for sealing the upper surface of the uppermost cake and the lower surface of the lowermost cake to individually seal the cakes with respect to the atmosphere, and the grooves in the tube and groovedmeans forming an interconnecting passageway internally of the cakes.

`8. An apparatus for treating `,artificial fiber cakes including an upright, said upright being inthe form of a perforated hollow tube externally threaded and quarter sections not threaded, cooperating supporting plates internally threaded and quarter sections also not threaded whereby the plates can be set at any desired position on the upright and locked in position by revolving them. a quarterl turn, and the upright sealed at its upper end.

9. An apparatus for treating articial fiber cakes including an upright, said upright beingA inthe form of a perforated hollow tube externally threaded and quarter sections not threaded, cooperating supporting plates internally threaded and quarter sections also not threaded whereby the plates can be set at any desired position on the upright and locked in position by revolving them a quarter turn, the upright sealed at its upper end, and the cooperating plates having sponge rubberdisks on their surfaces that contact with the artificial fiber cakes.

10. An apparatus for treating artificial fiber cakes including an upright, said upright being in the form of aperforated hollow tube externally threaded and quarter sections not threaded, cooperating supporting plates internally threaded and quarter sections also not threaded whereby the plates can be set at any desired position on the upright and locked in position by revolving them a quarter turn, the upright sealed at its upper end, and the plates having sponge rubber pads on their upper and lower surfaces.

l1. An apparatus for treating artificial iiber cakes including an upright, said upright being in the form of a perforated hollow tube externally threaded and quarter sections not threaded, cooperating supporting plates internally threaded and quarter sections also not threaded whereby the plates can be set at any desired position on the upright and locked in position by revolving them a quarter turn, and the upright sealed at its upper end withfa removable cap which also serves as a clamping means for the uppermost cake in the stack.

l2. An upright for stacking artificial ber cakes, said upright consisting of a hard rubber hollow tube having perforations therein, mutilated external threads, a removable cap on said tube for clamping the uppermost cake of the stack, supporting plates having mutilated internal threads cooperating with the external threads of the upright whereby the plates when held in one position may be moved vertically freely and may be locked in position when rotated a part turn, sponge rubber disks on the opposite surfaces of said plates to thereby clamp the stacked cakes in position 4and individually support each cake. the cores of the stacked cakes forming a chamber sealed against atmospheric pressure, and means for forcing pressure into said chamber.

13. An apparatus for treating articial fiber cakes including an upright about which the cakes are to be placed and cooperating supporting means lockable at any desired position on said upright for stacking the cakes as a unit but individually supporting each respective cake in the unit, means for sealing all of the cakes against atmospheric pressure, and means for forcing liquid under pressure into all of said cakes to thereby equally treat all of said stacked cakes.

JOSEPH P. LAIRD. FREDERICK C. NIEDERHAUSER. 

